Highway marker



April 13, 1937. c. H. SMITH HIGHWAY MARKER Filed June 9, 1936 c Akzfs. x1 SM/Z'f/ ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNiTsosrATEs roman) PATENT OFF ICE '3 Claims.

This invention relates generally 'to highway markers and more particularlyv to metallic markers which possess new and improved features and advantages, and toanew and improved method of setting the same in ahighway.

Markers embodying the present invention are characterized by consisting of a general flat top portion, preferably disk-shaped, and a tapered shank portion on the under side of the top, the

0 shank having plain surfaced sides and longitudinally extending corners, with one or more recesses forming shoulders at the corners, or at the intersections of such sides. Thecross-sectional configuration of the shank may be variously shaped, for example, triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal or any other shape having substantially plane sides. Preferably, the shank is square in cross-section, for such a shape combines adequate strength and resistance to turning movement of the marker about the center line of the shank and ample space to permit flow of tarorjother sealing material upwardly therearound when the marker is driveninto a hole in the highway. Moreover, when such a shank is recessed, particularly at the corners, it hasstrong substantial. shoulders whichare adequate to resist all lifting forces which, underordi-nary service conditions, may be applied to the marker.

Markers embodying the present invention possess several desirable features not possessed by highway markers devised heretofore so far as I know. For example, they may be set solidly in a highway from which they cannot be removed under ordinaryservice conditions; they resist turning movement 811011525 might be applied by a sliding automobile tire engaging one side of the top; they may be, and preferably are, composed of metal such as stainless steel which is highly 40 resistant to rusting, corrosion and discoloration and hence will preserve their bright shiny appearance for long periods of time and reflect the lightrays from automobile headlights so as to be visible even in foggy weather; they may be 5 made by casting or forging operations; and they may be driven into holes of the proper size in the highway and thereby seat themselves in the highway material by cutting it away and insure substantially complete filling of the hole with 50 tar or other sealing material so as to exclude water therefrom.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one form 55 of marker embodying the present invention;

Figure 2' is a top plan view of the marker of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the marker of Fig. v1; and,

Figure4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line4 i of Fig. 3.

v The marker illustrated in the accompanying drawingconsists of a shaped top I and a shank 2 integral therewith and extending down from the under surface thereof. Preferably the top I is disk-shaped and its upper surface is recessed as at 3 and 4 in Fig. 2 to form anti-friction surfaces, to prevent ready slippage of tires, rubber shoe heels and the like thereon, and to break up lightrays to improve the visibility. The lower surface is recessed as at la from the shank to the narrow plane peripheral surface lb which rests on the surface of the highway.

The shank 2 is shown as being square in crosssection and as having plain side surfaces 5 which intersect to form substantially square corners 6, extending lengthwise of the shank. Recesses 1 extending circumferentially around the shank and defined by bottom surfaces 8 extending at substantially right angles to the center line of the shank, and conical surfaces 9 extending upwardly and outwardly from the inner radial ends of surfaces 8, form what may be considered as annular grooves around the shank and provide shoulders of considerable radial length at the corners of the shank. The longitudinal extent of the recesses I on the side surfaces 5 is indicated onFig. 1 at In and at the corners is indicated on Fig. 4.

It Will be understood that shanks of various cross-sectional shapes, other than the square shape herein illustrated, may be employed. For example, the shank 2 may be triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal or in general any other shape so long as the shank has distinct plain surfaces or sides adequate to form corners at the intersection of two of such sides which will afford resistance to turning movement of the marker about the center line of the shank when in a suitable hole in a highway. It will likewise be understood that recesses of configurations other than the conical shape illustrated herein may be used. For example, the recesses need not have their bottom walls substantially at right angles to the center line of the shank but may be inclined upwardly somewhat or downwardly, if desired, the main purpose being to provide shoulders which will resist withdrawal of the shank from its hole in the highway. Similarly, the side wall of the recess need not be conical in shape, as shown, but may be straight or even inclined inwardly, the purpose being to provide a recess into which tar or other sealing material may be disposed for exclusion of water and resistance to removal of the marker from the highway. One or more recesses may be used, two having been found to give good satisfaction.

Since the shank 2 tapers from top I to its lower or free end, each circumferential set of shoulders extends outwardly beyond the set or sets of shoulders located therebelow, i. e., nearer to the free end of the shank. For this reason each set of shoulders forms seats for itself in the highway material but does not form seats for the higher sets, i. e., those nearer to the top I Thus, resistance to withdrawal of the shank is afforded by all the shoulders and is not confined to one set. The marker herein shown may be made by casting or forging metal into the desired shape, but forging is preferred because it provides an integral article of adequate strength and ductility and can be driven into a hole in the pavement without danger of breakage. Furthermore, the material of the article should preferably be steel which is resistant to corrosion, such as rusting and attack by salt solutions which are commonly used in the winter time to melt snow and ice; and hard enough to cut away the highway material to seat the corners without destroying their holding power against withdrawal. Stainless steel has proven to be quite satisfactory for this purpose and is preferred because of its corrosion resistant properties and other properties such as strength and ductility. Such steel is also preferred because it can be readily heat-treated in either cast or forged condition to improve its strength and ductility and resistance to abrasion. Markers embodying the present invention may be readily and permanently set in a highway. One manner of setting such markers includes the steps of forming a round hole in the highway material of adequate depth to accommodate the shank of the marker and of a diameter slightly less than the greatest transverse dimension of the shank; placing an amount of tar or otherwise suitable sealing material in the hole so that when the shank is in place the hole will be completely filled; and then driving the shank of the marker into the hole until the under side of the top of the marker is in contact all around with the surface of the pavement. The corners of the shank cut away the highway material and thus seat themselves therein and their engagement with such material tends to lock the marker against forces tending to lift the shank out of the hole or to rotate them when pressure is applied to the top. During the movement of the shank into the hole the tar or similar material which is in liquid or plastic form is forced upwardly along the shank between the plain side surfaces of the latter and the curved surfaces of the hole, and fills the recesses in the shank, any excess of such material being accommodated on top of the highway and in the recess surrounding the shank on the under side of top I. Such material flows around the shank into the recesses at the corners and adds to the resistance to turning or lifting of the marker. Thus, entry of water into the hole in the pavement is prevented, the sealing material is confined under the top and assists in preventing dislodgment of the marker.

Having thus described the present invention so that others may understand and be able to practice the same, what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

What isclaimed is:

1. A highway marker comprising a top, and a tapered shank having plain intersecting side surfaces forming longitudinally extending corners and having circumferentially extending, axially spaced recesses forming shoulders at the corners of the shank, each circumferential set of such shoulders extending outwardly beyond corresponding shoulders located between said set and the free end of the shank.

2. A highway marker comprising a top, and a tapered shank integral with and extending from the under side thereof, said shank having plain intersecting side surfaces forming longitudinally extending corners and having axially spaced annular recesses extending around said shank defined by downwardly converging side walls and bottom walls substantially perpendicular to the center line of the shank, each of said recesses forming an annular shoulder around the shank, each such shoulder extending outwardly beyond a corresponding shoulder located nearer to the free end of said shank.

3. A stainless steel, forged, highway marker comprising a top disk, and an integral downwardly extending non-circular tapered shank having longitudinally extending corners, said shank having axially spaced circumferential recesses defined by surfaces extending at substantially right angles to the center line of the shaft and conical surfaces extending upwardly and outwardly from the inner end of said bottom surfaces, said conical surfaces being longer axially of the shank at the corners than therebetween, the shoulders formed by one of such recesses extending outwardly beyond the shoulders located between said first recess and the free end of the shank.

CHARLES H. SMITH. 

